Oden/Durant Debate

[BigVolcano]

For a while, we tried to hold out. Maybe this was going to be more of a "Houston drafting Hakeem Olajuwon over Jordan" thing. But, come on, let's just be real. This is "Blazers draft Bowie over Jordan" all over again. Durant is headed for a perennial All-NBA career. Poor Greg? Does he even make four All-Star games before he calls it quits? He's looking more like an Erick Dampier (solid big man) than an Andrew Bynum (blossoming stud).

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/vince_thomas/11/17/retired/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

 

[Nikolokolus]

Bowie a career 44% shooter from the floor and a terrible rebounder and a PER of 14 for most of his career.

But whatever, this Oden=Bowie meme is almost funny now.

 

[Chutney]

This will end badly....

 

[Wheels]

more fuel for Greg's fire I hope.

 

[magnifier661]

Bowie a career 44% shooter from the floor and a terrible rebounder and a PER of 14 for most of his career.

But whatever, this Oden=Bowie meme is almost funny now.

Look who posted it. This isn't a Blazer fan. I laugh at the debate as well. For one, Oden seems like his injuries are history and now must deal with "foul trouble" <-- No love from the refs. Durrant is so far off the "Jordan-type game changer" it's not even funny anymore.

Durrant will be a force, but not even close to Jordan, while Oden is so far better than Bowie.

 

[shankyoass]

OP is a troll.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Slam Magazine. Nuff' said.

 

[BenDavis503]

That is like comparing a m149 Para to a bullet proof vest. Yes, the one that shoots more is more exciting. But the one that blocks the bullet from hitting your chest is what our team needs.

All I have to say is, what is the win\loss record for the two players, thus far in the NBA? Greg has won more games, no?

 

[BigVolcano]

All I have to say is, what is the win\loss record for the two players, thus far in the NBA? Greg has won more games, no?

By this logic you could say that Sun Yue is the better player because he was on the Lakers?

I'm not saying that Oden is bad. I actually like Oden and most of the Portland team. I'm only talking to the fans that are delusional enough to think that Oden is comparable to Durant.

 

[blazerboy30]

By this logic you could say that Sun Yue is the better player because he was on the Lakers?

I'm not saying that Oden is bad. I actually like Oden and most of the Portland team. I'm only talking to the fans that are delusional enough to think that Oden is comparable to Durant.

Please tell us "delusional fans" why they are NOT comparable. Pretty ironic that you say they are not comparable, yet you start a thread trying to compare them.

In the quote you posted, there are absolutely no facts, or figures. Just the typical "Durant is better than Oden because that is my opinion" garbage.

It's perfectly reasonable to have the opinion that Durant is better and/or will have a better career, but back up your opinion, or GTFO.

 

[Wheels]

By this logic you could say that Sun Yue is the better player because he was on the Lakers?

I'm not saying that Oden is bad. I actually like Oden and most of the Portland team. I'm only talking to the fans that are delusional enough to think that Oden is comparable to Durant.

While I agree to a point on what you are saying.. Sun Yue offered nothing to that team. I'm not saying Oden is to Durants level yet. But he certainly isnt anywhere as low as Yue's level.

 

[BenDavis503]

By this logic you could say that Sun Yue is the better player because he was on the Lakers?

I'm not saying that Oden is bad. I actually like Oden and most of the Portland team. I'm only talking to the fans that are delusional enough to think that Oden is comparable to Durant.

That would be a good point, if the thread was "Yue\Durant\Oden" or "Random Player\Oden\Durant debate, but it's not.

While I agree to a point on what you are saying.. Sun Yue offered nothing to that team. I'm not saying Oden is to Durants level yet. But he certainly isnt anywhere as low as Yue's level.

Thank you for assuming we are talking about Oden\Durant and not other players. I thought that was clear, but not to some posters!

 

[BigVolcano]

It's perfectly reasonable to have the opinion that Durant is better and/or will have a better career, but back up your opinion, or GTFO.

You need stats to tell you that Durant is better than Oden? Really?

 

[blazerboy30]

You need stats to tell you that Durant is better than Oden? Really?

Way to back up your opinion. Clearly you are a troll. Thanks for playing, now kindly GTFO.

 

[maxiep]

They have different roles on different teams. Durant is having the Thunder built around him. He isn't asked to play much defense and is given the green light to shoot whenever he has the ball. Others on the team do the dirty work for him.

Greg Oden has to incorporate himself into a 54 win team whose leaders are Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. He is asked to anchor the defense and make up for our lack of perimeter defense by bailing out the guards. He is the third or fourth on offense, mostly as a garbage man. Oden is expected to do the dirty work.

The comparison is no different than it was in college. Durant had all the great stats for Texas, but couldn't get UT into the Sweet Sixteen. Oden merely did all the things to help his team win, regardless of the stats and as a result The Buckeyes made it to the Finals.

Kevin Durant is Dominque Wilkins or Charles Barkley. Greg Oden is Bill Russell or Robert Parish.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You need stats to tell you that Durant is better than Oden? Really?

Yes. And they better be more than just points scored or even shooting % or rebounding, unless you happen to think that Zach Randolph is a great player.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Kevin Durant is Dominque Wilkins or Charles Barkley. Greg Oden is Bill Russell or Robert Parish.

Durant isn't as entertaining to watch as either 'Nique or Barkley. I like George Gervin or Alex English as better comparisons. Or my favorite, "a taller Kevin Martin".

Oden will be better than Parish, but it's no slight on him to say he's a ways from Russell yet. Somewhere between Mutombo and Mourning, perhaps.

 

[BigVolcano]

Yes. And they better be more than just points scored or even shooting % or rebounding, unless you happen to think that Zach Randolph is a great player.

If you're talking about wins, clearly Oden is on the better team. Also, regarding the different roles, when Ben Wallace was considered an allstar it was solely due to defensive presence, something most of you claim Oden brings in the bunches. He has yet to show that level of defense or rebounding mainly due to his inability to stay on the floor, whereas Durant has shown that he can score with the best of them and his Thunder are where the Blazers were a couple of years ago.

 

[LittleAlex]

By this logic you could say that Sun Yue is the better player because he was on the Lakers?

I'm not saying that Oden is bad. I actually like Oden and most of the Portland team. I'm only talking to the fans that are delusional enough to think that Oden is comparable to Durant.

I don't think they are comparable at all.

But not for the same reasons as you do.

Durant and Oden play different positions, in different roles on teams at different points of development. The one and only thing they have in common is the draft.

Frankly, that isn't enough to make a comparison on.

You, and most folks like you, want to belive that had Portland drafted Durant he would be just the same player as he is now on the Thunder.

But that is just plain wrong. Durant started his career being the best player on a completely horrific. Oden started his career on a team that already had an established pecking order.

Guess what? Durant wouldn't have been number one on that list. Or number two for that matter.

Further, Nate does't particularly care for players who are bad at defense. Durant is a lot of things but good at defense isn't one of them.

I am not convinced Durant would have even started for Portland his rookie season. He would have been yet another guy stuck on Nate's bench that Portland fans would clamor for while Outlaw jacked up fade-away jumper after fade-away jumper.

How would Durant be looked at if he got the same number of shots per game as Oden does? Would he still be a game changer with only 10 shots a game?

I don't have any idea. Neither does you or anyone else.

We do know that Oden has an impact on the floor whether he gets plays called for him or not. Just take a look at Portland's defensive numbers this year with a healthy Oden as compared to last year's slow still in recovery version.

Personally I think Oden brings what Portland needs to the table. I don't have the slightest idea if Durant would do the same.

 

[andalusian]

If you're talking about wins, clearly Oden is on the better team. Also, regarding the different roles, when Ben Wallace was considered an allstar it was solely due to defensive presence, something most of you claim Oden brings in the bunches. He has yet to show that level of defense or rebounding mainly due to his inability to stay on the floor, whereas Durant has shown that he can score with the best of them and his Thunder are where the Blazers were a couple of years ago.

I am sorry? Greg's foul rate allows him to play 34 minutes per game. He is only playing 24 because the coach chooses to reduce the team's play time where possible - and Joel Pryzbilla is another fantastic defender. Portland is #3 in the entire league in defensive efficiency - they were 13 last year - and the biggest upside of this improvement comes from Greg Oden's improvement.

If you look at all the "regular rotation" players in this league,(I defined a regular rotation as a player who played at least 100 minutes so far this year, with around 10 games or more for the teams, that means a player who gets at least 10 minutes per game), who's defensive rating is under 95 - you will get 3 players in the entire league.

Are you ready for them?

At 93/100 - Greg Oden.
At 93/100 - Joel Pryzbilla.
At 94/100 - Kevin Garnet

http://www.basketball-reference.com...t&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=ws

So - if we look at these guy's defensive-win score, you will see that Greg Oden (whose DTG is better than KG's) has the same DWS as KG - but managed to accumulate it in 40 less minutes played (that's more than one entire game based on KG's minutes per game).

Statistically, Greg Oden is the best defensive player in the league. Right now. As raw as he is, as foul prone as he is.

The kid is a game changer on the defensive end. You might be unable to see it, you might still think he is a bust - but his impact, defensively, is already higher than Durant's impact offensively.

By the way, if you look at Ben Wallace, you will see that Greg Oden's current DRTG is as good as Wallace's 3rd best year (defensively). When the Detriot Pistons won the ring, he had an incredible DRTG of 87/100 - but his 2nd best year was at 90/100 and his 3rd best year was 93/100 (where Greg Oden is right now). In all other 11 years Wallace played - his DRTG was worse than what Greg Oden is giving you right now.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

he can score with the best of them

Let's face it, he's no Brandon Jennings.

and his Thunder are where the Blazers were a couple of years ago.

Yes, and then we drafted Oden and started winning!

 

[Wheels]

Let's face it, he's no Brandon Jennings.



Yes, and then we drafted Oden and started winning!

sorry that last line was funny.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

You know what. I don't care any more. We drafted Greg. What's done is done. He either is or he isn't. Sooner than later we will find out for sure. It's not something that can't be determined now. Only Greg has the answers to this. He and the team can dispel all this if they want to.

 

[drexlersdad]

lol ilmago comes in here talking bust with a bargnani avatar???? hahhahahahaha!!!

blazers have two better players from that ONE DRAFT than bargs. wtf man.

 

[Sex Panther]

Durant is closer to TMac minus the injuries. His ceiling is just as high, if not greater, than Oden's.

On the other hand, Oden's impact on a team is more David Robinson's. Though obviously, he's nowhere near that level yet.

 

[andalusian]

Durant is closer to TMac minus the injuries.

Maybe a better defender than T-Mac but not as good at creating for others. But, I agree. This is where he is headed, imho.

His ceiling is just as high, if not greater, than Oden's.

No arguments there.

On the other hand, Oden's impact on a team is more David Robinson's. Though obviously, he's nowhere near that level yet.

I do not think Greg will ever be the offensive machine D-Rob was - but he has the tools and instincts, I think, to be a better defender.

 

[Deebag]

Kevin Durant should not be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan. The boy knows how to shoot, that is all. How many games has he scored 40/50 and his team still ends up coming short? All-time greats aren't like that.

If anything, the next Jordan/Kobe is BJ. That guy is a stud, and he dishes and rebounds well, too. Too bad the Bucks won't be able to keep him much longer than they're allowed to.

 

[BigVolcano]

lol ilmago comes in here talking bust with a bargnani avatar???? hahhahahahaha!!!

blazers have two better players from that ONE DRAFT than bargs. wtf man.

I didnt say bust. I only said that ppl shouldn't be saying that Oden is/can be better than Durant.

Btw watch a raptor game.

 

[Sex Panther]

Maybe a better defender than T-Mac but not as good at creating for others. But, I agree. This is where he is headed, imho.

I don't know. TMac in his earlier days wasn't exactly much of a playmaker but more so an off-ball guy. He learned to create in Orlando and I think thats what Durant will eventually learn to do.

I do not think Greg will ever be the offensive machine D-Rob was - but he has the tools and instincts, I think, to be a better defender.

Nono. I don't think anyone will ever mistake Oden's offense for a polished DRobinson's. But I do think his presence and his defensive and rebounding potential can be on that level. But still, with his athleticism and willingness to learn, it's not farfetched to believe that he could one day put up 19 PPG. Kind of like the way Dwight did in his 2nd and 3rd years just getting alleyoops and offensive rebounds.

 

[KingSpeed]

They have different roles on different teams. Durant is having the Thunder built around him. He isn't asked to play much defense and is given the green light to shoot whenever he has the ball. Others on the team do the dirty work for him.

Greg Oden has to incorporate himself into a 54 win team whose leaders are Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. He is asked to anchor the defense and make up for our lack of perimeter defense by bailing out the guards. He is the third or fourth on offense, mostly as a garbage man. Oden is expected to do the dirty work.

The comparison is no different than it was in college. Durant had all the great stats for Texas, but couldn't get UT into the Sweet Sixteen. Oden merely did all the things to help his team win, regardless of the stats and as a result The Buckeyes made it to the Finals.

Kevin Durant is Dominque Wilkins or Charles Barkley. Greg Oden is Bill Russell or Robert Parish.

Statistically, Oden is nowhere near what Bill Russell did for the Celtics.